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Tropical Storm Kirk brought rain to some of the Lesser Antilles on Friday. At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Friday the center of Tropical Storm Kirk was located at latitude 13.8°N and longitude 63.6°W which put it about 360 miles (575 km) south-southeast of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Kirk was moving toward the west-northwest at 13 m.p.h. (20 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1007 mb. All Tropical Storm Warnings and Watches have been discontinued.

An upper level trough over the Caribbean Sea is producing strong westerly winds which is blowing over the top of Tropical Storm Kirk. Those winds are causing strong vertical wind shear, which is causing the strongest thunderstorms to occur on the far eastern side of the circulation. Bands west of the center of circulation and near the center consist primarily of showers and lower clouds. The center of circulation is over the eastern Caribbean Sea and the heavy rain is falling hours after the center passed the Lesser Antilles. Locally heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations.

Tropical Storm Kirk will move through an environment that will be unfavorable for intensification during the weekend. Kirk will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 29°C. However, the upper level trough will continue cause strong vertical wind shear for the next several days. Tropical Storm Kirk will likely weaken to a tropical depression or a tropical wave during the next 24 to 48 hours.

Tropical Storm Kirk will move south of a subtropical high pressure system that is over the Atlantic Ocean. The high will steer Kirk in a general west-northwesterly direction during the weekend. On its anticipated track Tropical Storm Kirk should stay south of Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. Kirk or its remnants could be near Jamaica in a few days.

Tropical Storm Kirk redeveloped east of the Lesser Antilles on Wednesday morning and Tropical Storm Warnings and Watches were issued for some of those islands. At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Tropical Storm Kirk was located at latitude 12.1°N and longitude 54.3°W which put it about 360 miles (575 km) east-southeast of Barbados. Kirk was moving toward the west at 18 m.p.h. (30 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 65 m.p.h. (105 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1002 mb.

Tropical Storm Warnings have been issued for Barbados, St. Lucia, Dominica, Martinique and Guadeloupe. A Tropical Storm Watch has been issued for St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) indicated that former Tropical Storm Kirk had weakened to a tropical wave on Monday and NHC ceased issuing advisories on the system. The remnants of former Tropical Storm Kirk moved quickly westward across the tropical Atlantic Ocean. More thunderstorms began developing in the system on Tuesday. NHC determined that sufficient thunderstorms had formed near the center of circulation by Wednesday morning to reclassify the system as a tropical cyclone and it started issuing advisories on Tropical Storm Kirk again.

A cluster of strong thunderstorms developed near the center of Tropical Storm Kirk. Thunderstorms were also forming in several bands which were revolving around the center of circulation. Thunderstorms near the core of Kirk were generating upper level divergence which was pumping mass away to the east of the tropical storm.

Tropical Storm Kirk will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Kirk will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 29°C. It will move through an area where the upper level winds are not too strong. There will be some vertical wind shear, but the wind shear will not be strong enough to prevent intensification in the short term. When Tropical Storm Kirk moves over the eastern Caribbean Sea, it will encounter stronger westerly winds and the vertical wind shear will increase.

Tropical Storm Kirk will move south of the subtropical high pressure system over the Atlantic Ocean. The subtropical high will steer Kirk on a path a little north of due west. On its anticipated track Tropical Storm Kirk could be near Barbados on Thursday morning. Kirk could reach the Lesser Antilles later on Thursday. Tropical Storm Kirk will bring gusty winds and it could drop locally heavy rain.

Tropical Storm Kirk formed south of the Cabo Verde Islands on Saturday. At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Storm Kirk was located at latitude 8.3°N and longitude 23.6°W which put it about 450 miles (730 km) south of the Cabo Verde Islands. Kirk was moving toward the west at 14 m.p.h. (22 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1005 mb.

The circulation around Tropical Storm Kirk is large and not well organized. There is a low level center of circulation, but there are not many thunderstorms near the center. There were thunderstorms in a cluster west of the center and more thunderstorms were in another cluster east of the center. Some of the thunderstorms appeared to be organizing into bands, but the bands were not well developed.

Tropical Storm Kirk will move through an environment during the next day or two that should be favorable for intensification. Kirk will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 27°C. It will move through an area where the upper level winds are weak and the wind shear will not be strong enough to prevent intensification. Tropical Storm Kirk is likely to become more organized during the next 24 to 48 hours. It will move into a region in a couple of days where the lower level easterly winds will be stronger vertical wind shear could increase.

Tropical Storm Kirk will move south of a subtropical high pressure system over the Atlantic Ocean. The high will steer Kirk toward the west at a fairly quick pace. On its anticipated track Tropical Storm Kirk could approach the Lesser Antilles by late next week.

Elsewhere over the tropical Atlantic, Tropical Depression Eleven moved slowly toward the Windward Islands. At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Depression Eleven was located at latitude 13.2°N and longitude 53.8°W which put it about 485 miles (780 km) east of the Windward Islands. It was moving toward the west at 3 m.p.h. (5 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 30 m.p.h. (50 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1008 mb.

Hurricane Maria moved away from Puerto Rico on Wednesday night after causing significant wind damage and serious flash floods. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Hurricane Maria was located at latitude 19.2°N and longitude 67.9°W which put it about 55 miles (85 km) northeast of Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Maria was moving toward the northwest at 9 m.p.h. (15 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 110 m.p.h. (175 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 130 m.p.h. (210 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 959 mb.

Hurricane Warnings are in effect for the Turks and Caicos, the Southeastern Bahamas, and the portion of the coast from Cabo Engano to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. A Hurricane Watch is in effect for the portion of the coast from Cabo Engano to Isla Saona, Dominican Republic. Tropical Storm Warnings are in effect for the portions of the coast from Puerto Plata to the northern border with Haiti and from Cabo Engano to Punta Palenque, Dominican Republic.

Hurricane Maria made landfall on the southeast coast of Puerto Rico near Yabucoa on Wednesday morning. Maria was a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale at the time of landfall. Hurricane Maria moved northwest across Puerto Rico and the center emerged over the Atlantic Ocean near Arecibo on Thursday afternoon.

Hurricane Maria weakened as the core of the hurricane moved across Puerto Rico. The mountains on Puerto Rico disrupted the circulation in the lower levels of Maria, but the middle and upper portions of the circulation remained intact. Hurricane Maria was in the middle of an eyewall replacement cycle when it made landfall in Puerto Rico. The timing of landfall may have caused Maria to weaken more than it would have if there had not been an eyewall replacement cycle. The inner eyewall which contained the strongest winds dissipated at Hurricane Maria moved across Puerto Rico. The strongest winds are occurring in the remaining outer eyewall. The eyewall replacement cycle contributed to an increase in the size of the circulation of Hurricane Maria. Wind to hurricane force extend out about 60 miles (95 km) from the center of circulation. Wind to tropical storm force extend out about 160 miles (260 km) from the center.

Hurricane Maria will move through an environment favorable for intensification on Thursday. Maria will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 29°C. The upper level winds are weak and there is not much vertical wind shear. It could take another 12 to 24 hours for the lower portions of the circulation to reorganize. The reorganization could limit the rate of intensification. In addition the center will pass near the Dominican Republic. Some of the southern part of the circulation will be over land and that could also limit intensification until Maria moves farther away from Hispaniola.

Hurricane Maria is moving around the southwestern portion of the subtropical high over the Atlantic Ocean. That high has been steering Maria toward the northwest. Many of the numerical models are forecasting that the high will weaken and Maria will turn toward the north on Thursday. If the high remains stronger than the models are forecasting, then Hurricane Maria will move farther toward the west. Hurricane Maria seems to have moved near the left side of the guidance from the numerical models in recent days. On its forecast track the center of Hurricane Maria will move north of the Dominican Republic on Thursday. Hurricane Maria could be near the Turks and Caicos on Friday.

Hurricane Maria is still capable of producing extensive significant damage. Maria will drop heavy rain on parts of the Dominican Republic and there could be flash floods in some places where there is steeper terrain.

Elsewhere, Tropical Storm Jose move slowly east-northeast southeast of Massachusetts. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Tropical Storm Jose was located at latitude 39.5°N and longitude 68.2°W which put it about 150 miles (245 km) southeast of Nantucket. Jose was moving toward the east-northeast at 6 m.p.h. (9 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h) and there were ind gusts to 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 982 mb. A Tropical Storm Warning was in effect for the portion of the coast from Woods Hole to Sagamore Beach including Block Island, Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket and Cape Cod.

Category 5 Hurricane Maria was bearing down on Puerto Rico on Tuesday night. The eye was very near St. Croix. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of Hurricane Maria was located at latitude 17.3°N and longitude 64.7°W which put it about 30 miles (45 km) south-southeast of St. Croix and about 120 miles (190 km) southeast of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Maria was moving toward the west-northwest at 10 m.p.h. (16 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 175 m.p.h. (280 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 215 m.p.h. (345 m/h). The minimum surface pressure was 909 mb.

Hurricane Warnings were in effect for Puerto Rico, Culebra, Vieques, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands, and for the portion of the coast from Cabo Engano to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. Hurricane Watches were in effect for the Turks and Caicos, the Southeastern Bahamas, Saba, St. Maarten, St. Martin, St. Eustatius, St. Barthelemy, and the portion of the coast from Isla Saona to Cabo Engano, Dominican Republic. Tropical Storm Warnings were in effect for Saba, St. Eustatius, St. Maarten, the portion of the coast from Puerto Plata,, Dominican Republic to the northern border with Haiti and for the portion of the coast from Cabo Engano to Punta Palenque, Dominican Republic,

Hurricane Maria is a very well organized powerful hurricane. It has a small inner eye and a second outer eyewall extends most of the way around the inner eyewall. The strongest winds are occurring in the inner eyewall. Additional spiral bands are revolving around the core of the circulation. The concentric eyewalls have caused the circulation of Hurricane Maria to increase in size. Winds to hurricane force now extend out about 60 miles (95 km) from the center of circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extend out about 160 miles (260 km) from the center.

The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Hurricane Maria is 40.4. The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) is 19.2 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) is 59.6. Those indices indicate that Hurricane Maria is capable of causing regional catastrophic damage.

Hurricane Maria will continue to move through an environment favorable for powerful hurricanes until it reaches Puerto Rico. Maria will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 29°C. The upper level winds are weak and there is little vertical wind shear. If the outer eyewall completely encircles the inner eyewall, then an eyewall replacement cycle could cause some weakening. Hurricane Maria will weaken more if the center moves directly over Puerto Rico. The amount of weakening will depend on the stage of the eyewall replacement cycle at the time of landfall.

Hurricane Maria is being steered toward the west-northwest by the subtropical high pressure system over the Atlantic Ocean. The western end of the high is forecast to weaken during the next several days. The weakening of the high will allow Hurricane Maria to move more toward the north. The core of Hurricane Maria will pass near or over St. Croix during the next few hours. On its anticipated track Hurricane Maria will reach Puerto Rico on Wednesday morning.

Hurricane Maria is a very dangerous hurricane. It is capable of causing catastrophic damage. Maria will also drop very heavy rain over Puerto Rico and there is the potential for significant flash flooding. Maria could also cause a storm surge of up to 12 feet (4 meters) along the coast.

Elsewhere, Hurricane Jose weakened to a tropical storm east of the U.S. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of Tropical Storm Jose was located at latitude 37.9°N and longitude 70.8°W which put it about 230 miles (375 km) south of Nantucket. Jose was moving toward the northeast at 9 m.p.h. (15 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 70 m.p.h. (110 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 85 m.p.h. (135 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 973 mb.

A Tropical Storm Warning was in effect for the portion of the coast from Woods Hole to Sagamore Beach, Massachusetts including Block Island, Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket and Cape Cod. A Tropical Storm Watch was in effect for the portion of Long Island from Fire Island Inlet to Port Jefferson.

Hurricane Maria quickly strengthened to a Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale on Monday. At 8:00 p.m. EDT on Monday the center of Hurricane Maria was located at latitude 15.3°N and longitude 61.1°W which put it about 15 miles (25 km) east-southeast of Dominica. Maria was moving toward the west-northwest at 9 m.p.h. (15 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 160 m.p.h. (260 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 190 m.p.h. (305 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 925 mb.

Hurricane Warnings were in effect for Puerto Rico, Culebra, Vieques, Dominica, Guadeloupe, St. Kitts, Nevis, Martinique, Montserrat, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands. Hurricane Watches were in effect for Saba, St. Eustatius, St. Maarten, Anguilla, St. Martin, St. Barthelemy and the portion of the coast from Isla Saona to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. Tropical Storm Warnings were in effect for Anguilla, St. Lucia, Antigua, Barbuda, Saba, St. Eustatius and St. Maarten. Tropical Storm Watches were in effect for St. Vincent, the Grenadines and the portion of the coast from Puerto Plata to the Haiti/Dominican Republic border.

Hurricane Maria has a tight compact circulation. There is a small eye with a diameter of 10 miles (16 km) at the center of circulation. The eye is surround by a ring of strong thunderstorms and the strongest winds are occurring in that ring of storms. Additional bands of showers and thunderstorms are revolving around the core of Maria. The overall circulation of Hurricane Maria is small. Winds to hurricane force only extend out about 25 miles (40 km) from the center of circulation. Winds to tropical storm force only extend out about 125 miles (200 km) from the center.

Hurricane Maria will continue to move through an environment very favorable for strong hurricanes. Maria will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 29°C. The upper level winds are weak and there is little vertical wind shear. Hurricane Maria could strengthen further. Since the eye of Hurricane Maria is so small, it would be easy for a rainband to wrap around the eye. If that happens, then an eyewall replacement cycle could begin and the cycle could result in a temporary weakening of the hurricane.

Hurricane Maria is being steered to the west-northwest by the subtropical high pressure system over the Atlantic Ocean. That high is forecast to weaken and Maria is likely to move more toward the northwest during the next several days. On its anticipate track the center of Hurricane Maria will pass very close to Dominica and Guadeloupe on Monday night. Maria could pass near Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis on Tuesday. It could be near the U.S. Virgin Islands on Tuesday night and Hurricane Maria will approach Puerto Rico on Wednesday.

Hurricane Maria is a small but very dangerous hurricane. The winds in the core of Hurricane Maria are capable of causing extensive damage. In addition, heavy rain falling over steep terrain will likely produce flash floods. Hurricane Maria will affect some of the same islands that were severely damaged by Hurricane Irma. Maria will significantly hamper efforts in some places to recover from the effects of Hurricane Irma.

Elsewhere over the Atlantic Ocean, Hurricane Jose has begun the transition to an extratropical cyclone as it moves northward off the east coast of the U.S. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Monday the center of Hurricane Jose was located at latitude 34.8°N and longitude 71.1°W which put it about 445 miles (720 km) south of Nantucket, Massachusetts. Jose was moving toward the north at 10 m.p.h. (16 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 90 m.p.h. (145 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 977 mb.

A Tropical Storm Warning was in effect for the portion of the coast from Watch Hill, Rhode Island to Hull, Massachusetts including Block Island, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. Tropical Storm Watches were in effect for the portion of the coast of Long Island from Fire Island Inlet to Port Jefferson and from New Haven, Connecticut to Watch Hill, Rhode Island.

The structure of Hurricane Jose began to change on Monday from the more circular shape of a purely tropical hurricane to an asymmetrical shape seen more commonly in extratropical cyclones. Drier air wrapped around the western and southern sides of the circulation. Most of the strong thunderstorms and heavy rain were occurring in the northern half of Jose. Winds to hurricane force extended out about 60 miles (95 km) north of the center, but there were few if any winds to hurricane force south of the center. The circulation of Hurricane Jose is much larger than the circulation of Hurricane Maria. Winds to tropical storm force extend out about 320 miles (515 km) from the center of Jose.

The Hurricane Intensity Index for Hurricane Jose was 10.4. The Hurricane Size Index for Jose was 15.6 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index was 26.0.

Hurricane Jose will move into an environment that is unfavorable for hurricanes on Tuesday. Jose will stay over warm Sea Surface Temperatures until it moves north of the Gulf Stream. Once Jose moves north of latitude 38°N, it will start to move over cooler water. An upper level trough over the eastern U.S. is producing southerly winds which are causing moderate vertical wind shear over Jose. Cooler water and moderate shear would normally cause a hurricane to weaken. However, as Hurricane Jose makes the transition to an extratropical cyclone, it will start to be powered by the temperature difference between warm and cold air. The transition to an extratropical cyclone can sometimes produce a stronger storm when it occurs.

Hurricane Jose is moving around the western end of the subtropical high. Another surface high pressure system is forecast to move north of Jose when the hurricane approaches the northeastern U.S. The second high will block the northward motion and it will force Hurricane Jose to move toward the east. Some models are forecasting that Jose could make a clockwise loop southeast of Cape Cod. Hurricane Jose could bring gusty winds and high waves to sections of the coast in the northeastern U.S. during the next few days.

A reconnaissance plane found that Tropical Storm Maria had intensified into a hurricane as it moved toward the Leeward Islands on Sunday afternoon. At the same time Hurricane Jose moved farther north and Tropical Storm Watches were issued for the coast of the northeastern U.S. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Hurricane Maria was located at latitude 13.8°N and longitude 57.5°W which put it about 275 miles (445 km) east-southeast of Dominica. Maria was moving toward the west-northwest at 15 m.p.h. (24 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 90 m.p.h. (150 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 982 mb.

Hurricane Warnings were in effect for Guadeloupe, Dominica, St. Kitts, Nevis and Montserrat. Hurricane Watches were in effect for the U.S. Virgin Islands, the British Islands, Saba, St. Eustatius, St. Maarten, St. Martin, St. Barthelemy, and Anguilla. Tropical Storm Warnings were in effect for Martinique, St. Lucia, Antigua, Barbuda, Saba, and St. Eustatius. Tropical Storm Watches were in effect for Barbados, St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

A reconnaissance plane found sustained winds to hurricane force when it investigated Hurricane Maria on Sunday afternoon. The plane reported a circular eye with a diameter of 32 miles (52 km) at the center of circulation. The eye was surrounded by an almost complete ring of thunderstorms. The ring was broken south of the center. The strongest winds wind occurring in that ring of thunderstorms. Additional bands of showers and thunderstorms were developing in the eastern half of the circulation. There were fewer showers and thunderstorms in the western half of Maria. Hurricane Maria was generating upper level divergence which was pumping away mass and allowing the surface pressure to decrease.

Hurricane Maria will move through an environment that will be favorable for intensification. Maria will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 29°C. An upper level low over Caribbean Sea is causing southern winds which are blowing near the eastern side of Hurricane Maria. Those winds do not appear to be causing significant vertical wind shear. Hurricane Maria is likely to continue to intensify as it moves toward the Leeward Islands. Maria could intensify rapidly once a fully closed eye develops.

Hurricane Maria is being steered toward the west-northwest by the subtropical high pressure system over the Atlantic Ocean and that general motion is expected to continue for several more days. On its anticipated track Hurricane Maria could reach the Leeward Islands by later on Monday. Maria could be near Puerto Rico by Wednesday. Hurricane Maria will affect some of the same islands damaged by Hurricane Irma a few days ago. Strong winds and heavy rain will significantly impact recovery efforts in those areas.

A reconnaissance plane also found that Hurricane Jose was stronger on Sunday afternoon. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Hurricane Jose was located at latitude 31.5°N and longitude 71.8°W which put it about 335 miles (535 km) southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Jose was moving toward the north at 9 m.p.h. (15 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 90 m.p.h. (150 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 105 m.p.h. (170 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 967 mb.

Tropical Storm Watches have been issued for the portions of the coast from Fenwick Island, Delaware to Sandy Hook, New Jersey and from East Rockaway Inlet, New York to Plymouth, Massachusetts including Long Island Sound, Block Island, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.

Hurricane Jose strengthened on Sunday as it moved over water where the Sea Surface Temperature was near 29°C. An eye appeared at times on visible satellite imagery. The circulation of Hurricane Jose increased in size which often happens when hurricanes move north out of the tropics. Winds to hurricane force extended out about 60 miles (95 km) from the center of circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out about 290 miles (470 km) from the center.

Hurricane Jose will move through an environment which will be marginal for further intensification. Jose will move over water which is warm enough to support intensification. However, an upper level trough over the eastern U.S. is producing southerly winds which are blowing toward the top of the circulation. Those winds are producing strong vertical wind shear and they could weaken Jose during the next several days. Jose will be moving over warm water until it gets north of the Gulf Stream. If the upper level winds slow, then Jose could get stronger.

Hurricane Jose is being steered northward by the subtropical high over the Atlantic Ocean and the trough over the eastern U.S. On its anticipated track the center of Jose is forecast to move toward the northeastern U.S. and turn toward the east before it reaches the coast. If Jose follows the forecast track, then the core of the hurricane would remain offshore. However, the circulation of Jose is large enough that even if the center stays offshore, there could still be tropical storm force winds along the coast.

Tropical Storm Maria spun up quickly on Saturday and Watches were issued for the Northern Leeward Islands. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Storm Maria was located at latitude 12.3°N and longitude 52.6°W which put it about 620 miles (1000 km) east-southeast of the Lesser Antilles. Maria was moving toward the west at 20 m.p.h. (32 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 65 m.p.h. (105 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1002 mb.

A Hurricane Watch was in effect for Antigua, Barbuda, St. Kitts, Nevis and Montserrat. A Tropical Storm Watch was in effect for St. Lucia, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Dominca, Barbados, St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The circulation of Tropical Storm Maria organized quickly on Saturday. A primary rainband wrapped most of the way around the center of circulation. Thunderstorms in the core of the circulation generated upper level divergence which pumped mass away from the tropical storm. Numerous additional bands of showers and thunderstorms developed outside the core of the circulation.

Tropical Storm Maria will move through and environment that will be favorable for intensification. Maria will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 29°C. The upper level winds are weak and there is little vertical wind shear. Tropical Storm Maria could intensify rapidly during the next day or two. Maria is likely to become a hurricane on Sunday. Maria could strengthen into a major hurricane early next week.

The subtropical ridge over the Atlantic Ocean has been steering Tropical Storm Maria quickly toward the west. The ridge is forecast to weaken slightly during the next several days and Tropical Storm Maria will move more toward the west-northwest. Maria could reach the northern Leeward Islands within 48 hours. Maria could be near Puerto Rico in about three days. Maria will move over some of the same places that were seriously damaged by Hurricane Irma. Maria could severely impact recovery efforts in that region.

Elsewhere over the tropical Atlantic Hurricane Jose moved slowly toward the north southeast of the U.S. and Tropical Storm Lee formed over the eastern Atlantic Ocean. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Hurricane Jose was located at latitude 28.9°N and longitude 71.9°W which put it about 485 miles (780 km) south-southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Jose was moving toward the north at 6 m.p.h. (10 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 80 m.p.h. (130 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 95 m.p.h. (155 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 973 mb.

At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Storm Lee was located at latitude 12.6°N and longitude 34.2°W which put it about 720 miles (1160 km) west-southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands. Lee was moving toward the west at 10 m.p.h. (16 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h) and there wind gusts to 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1007 mb.

Hurricane Jose completed the long slow clockwise loop it made this week over the Atlantic Ocean and it turned back toward the U.S. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Friday the center of Hurricane Jose was located at latitude 27.1°N and longitude 70.3°W which put it about 640 miles (1025 km) southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Jose was moving toward the northwest at 10 m.p.h. (16 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 90 m.p.h. (145 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 983 mb.

An eye appeared to be forming at the center of Hurricane Jose as the primary rainband wrapped around the eastern and northern portions of the developing eye. The strongest winds were occurring in that rainband. Additional bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the eastern half of the circulation. There were fewer showers and thunderstorms in the western half of the circulation.

Hurricane Jose is moving over the part of the Atlantic Ocean that the hurricane traversed several days ago. So, Jose is moving over cooler water that it mixed to the surface when it moved over the area the first time. Hurricane Jose will soon move northwest of its previous track and it will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 30°C. The upper level winds will be weak and there will be little vertical wind shear. Hurricane Jose will strengthen during the weekend and it could intensify rapidly once the eye and eyewall are fully formed.

After a few days of weak steering currents the large subtropical high pressure system over the Atlantic Ocean has started to steer Hurricane Jose toward the northwest. A general northwesterly motion is forecast to continue for another 24 to 36 hours. At that time Jose will reach the western end of the high and it will turn more toward the north. On its anticipated track Hurricane Jose could be near the Outer Banks of North Carolina in two or three days. It is still too early to know if the center of Hurricane Jose will move into the U.S.

Hurricane Jose made a slow clockwise loop east of the Bahamas during the past several days. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Hurricane Jose was located at latitude 25.2°N and longitude 66.0°W which put it about 935 miles (1510 km) east of Nassau, Bahamas. Jose was moving toward the west at 3 m.p.h. (5 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 80 m.p.h. (130 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 95 m.p.h. (155 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 985 mb.

Hurricane Jose was in an area of weaker winds between an upper level ridge to the west and an upper level trough to the east. The weaker steering winds pushed Jose around a slow clockwise loop. The ridge is forecast to move north of Jose on Thursday and it should steer the hurricane toward the west. The ridge is forecast to move east of Jose on Friday and the hurricane is expected to start moving more toward the north.

Hurricane Jose has been moving through an environment that was somewhat unfavorable for intensification. Jose was moving over water where the Sea Surface Temperature was near 29°C. However, the upper level ridge was producing northerly winds which were causing moderate vertical wind shear. Hurricane Jose maintained its intensity despite the moderate shear, although there were fewer showers and thunderstorms in western half of the circulation. The wind shear could decrease as the upper level ridge moves north of Jose and the hurricane could strengthen.

It is still too early to know if Hurricane Jose will have much of an impact on the U.S. Most of the guidance from numerical models keeps Jose out over the Atlantic Ocean, but its actual track will depend on where and when the clockwise loop ends.